Can A Paramedic Afford Rent in Gary, IN?

Stretched but workable — rent takes 33.5% of gross income.

Gary rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Indiana state estimate).

Gary median rent
$1,366/mo
Paramedic salary (Indiana)
$48,926/yr
Rent as % of income
33.5%
Gross monthly income works out to about $4,077, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,223/mo in rent. Gary's median rent of $1,366 exceeds that threshold by $143/mo, putting a paramedic salary into the rent-burdened range here. A paramedic works roughly 58.1 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a paramedic salary

Paramedic and EMT base pay sits modestly below the US median household income and is often supplemented by overtime. At the national-average paramedic salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,330 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Indiana cities have lower median rent than Gary, which improves the affordability math on a paramedic salary:

Columbus, IN
$1,365/mo (33.5% of income)
Hammond, IN
$1,364/mo (33.5% of income)
Columbus, IN
$1,364/mo (33.5% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Gary

View full rent data for Gary, IN

Frequently asked questions

Can a paramedic afford rent in Gary, IN?

Median rent in Gary is $1,366 a month. A typical paramedic in Indiana earns about $48,926 a year, which makes that rent 33.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a paramedic afford in Gary?

Using the 30% rule, a paramedic salary in Indiana (~$48,926/yr) supports up to $1,223 a month in rent. Gary's current median rent is $1,366/mo, which is $143/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a paramedic work to cover rent in Gary?

At an hourly equivalent of about $24 an hour, a paramedic in Indiana works roughly 58.1 hours a month to cover Gary's median rent of $1,366.

Where is rent cheaper than Gary for a paramedic?

Nearby Indiana cities with lower median rent include Columbus ($1,365/mo), Hammond ($1,364/mo), Columbus ($1,364/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a paramedic salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Indiana state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Gary, IN. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.